Featured Return of the VW Microbus

Very interesting


iPhone ?

 

I am liking this- but not the wheels. They look like something out of the Jetsons.

 

Is there more to this than CGI renderings?

 

The linked presentation has a concept car onstage. I think you need to go about 15 minutes into the presentation though.

 

It would be refreshing to drive behind one of those that didn't smell like it was being used for pest control......

 

You mean like this?
https://www.trulynolen.com/images/mouse-car/red-ant-original.jpg

 

I think some have already bought the Pacifica (plug in)Hybrid.

 

The original VW predates minivans. I would expect this to be a minibus, not a microbus. I guess it is too small?

 

Four to five concepts? This is more vaporware than the Ioniq.

 

Chrysler Minivan aka Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan 1984

VW Type 2 Kombi & Commercial1948, Microbus 1950

 

I put it an order for the Pacifica Plugin Hybrid.

Here are my requirements:

• 6+ passenger vehicle.
• Hybrid (30mpg+)

And that's about damn it.

Shortlist:

• HiHy
• Prius Alpha
• Then out of no where Pacifica Plugin Hybrid

Now Wth, I drove a Pacifica and it is extremely competitive in according to features compared to the Odyssey and Sienna. And it was about the same price point.

The only main issue (that's going to bother me until I experience it fully) is that Chrysler has not had the best track record with their engines.

But now...where Pacifica Plugin Hybrid rates above the rest is:

• Matches or does better in Hybrid mode compared to the HiHy (at 32mpg).
• ~10mpg less than the Prius Alpha but that's fine, this holds more passengers and has a sliding door AND has way more space.
• Bonus: 32 Miles EV plugin, and now bring the children around town will be MUCH cheaper utilizing our solar.

The Pacifica Hybrid actually comes in less than a similarly equipped non-hybrid one due to the incentives and state incentives ($7,500 Fed and supposedly $2,500 state).

And my hope is that the Atkinson cycle engine will be more reliable ESPECIALLY if electric motors are utilized more to power the car.

Now only time will tell on the true test here...So there we have it. A Toyota and a Chrysler for us. A Prime for work and a Pacifica for family outings events and busing around the children.

Toyota had this in our grasps and I've been pushing on these forums for over 3 years and why Toyota and Honda couldn't get their act together for a Hybrid vehicle in the US? Who knows. In fact Toyota was so close...and Honda has their Hybrid Odyssey in Japan. But ... we get less options...and there is a "supposed" movement for CrossOver now (who can argue in the #s?) I'm really hoping the Prime can prove everyone wrong, that with the right price point, right vehicle, people will buy and go against these aforementioned "trends". Perhaps Chrysler can bring the Minivan back to its glory!

 

Likely there is s supposed movement for "CrossOvers" because US people cannot purchase what they really want to meet their needs. They must settle for something less.
You too settled for something less by giving up Toyota's reliability record. I understand your decision, though.

 

I'd guess at least 5% of that blue smoke was lead, too.
but at least they could really take a hit, in an accident


.

 

*OUCH*

But it is nice to be agnostic. You never know. Ioniq could indeed be the Prius-challenger. Toyota has actually had their unfortunate fair share of Sienna problems (being more of a problematic segment than the rest). Chrysler did make the Minivan competitive...etc...

Who would've thought the Volt was actually pretty good coming from Chevy!? Then you have the outdated Nissan Leaf which was good...4 years ago and is still not bad.

 

Being from the Old school crowd, this is really cool!! Both practical and efficient.

 

Other way around, I think - many Americans will buy something that doesn't meet their needs as well, to satisfy their wants.

Hence crossovers dominating the market, and minivans struggling.

Volkswagen has a terrible track record of bringing Microbus-inspired concepts to market (I mean, this is the fifth time they've showed one), but this one has the advantage of a skateboard electric platform allowing for improved packaging and aesthetics - it looks much more like a T1 Transporter than the previous concepts did, and it's got a better space to length ratio than the previous ICE-based concepts.

 

Honda just announced their new Minivan with supposed 30MPG ratings.

Had a friend who hit a 8 point buck, went over a guardrail and rolled 2.5 times in her Dodge minivan. 4 people, no serious injuries. Pictures of van gruesome. She bought another one.